Ryan knows Banbury must be ready to take advantage

Reading batsman Tom Fray is bowled by Ashley Blanchard as Richard West and James Phillips look on at White Post Road

Published:12:29Thursday 02 July 2015

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Banbury captain Luke Ryan knows this could be a pivotal weekend in the Home Counties Premier Cricket League campaign.

Ryan’s title chasers head to Slough while division one leaders Henley travel to second-placed High Wycombe who will be looking to end the champions’ 100 per cent record.

I’ve been very happy with the way we’ve played so far

Banbury captain Luke Ryan

Third-placed Banbury will face a tough fixture at Slough, one place below the White Post Road side, and the only team to beat Wycombe this year.

Ryan said: “Slough are a very good side, they’ve won the league more recently than ourselves. They proved they can score runs because they chased down 350 plus against High Wycombe recently and Slough is always a difficult place to go.

“But we’ve just got to go there and do what we need to do and hope Wycombe beat Henley on Saturday.

“Henley have won eight out of eight which is very impressive but I’ve been happy with how we’ve played so far and the only game we lost was against them.”

Looking back on Saturday’s eight wicket victory over Reading, who were bowled out for just 40 runs, Ryan added: “Karl Penhale and Ashley Blanchard bowled superbly.

“Karl bowled just one bad ball and that’s exactly what you want from your opening bowler.

“But we’ve got a lot more depth and variety on the bowling side this year and we’ve done very well so far in the field.”

Ian Tew is unavailable so Will Briggs comes back into the first XI after hitting a half-century for the second XI against Leighton Buzzard Town in the Cherwell League last weekend.

Ryan added: “By his own admission, Will feels he hasn’t scored enough runs so far. But he’s not had many opportunities to be fair, so that was the reasoning behind him playing for the seconds.”